Iris & Akiva discuss the various merits of their snowballs.
Akiva is left with the feeling of having created an inferior snowball.
We climb the lookout that I might take a fine dual portrait in front of the marsh.
Then I try individual portraits.
A wide-angle lens definitely increases goofballishness in closeup.
We have a memorable adventure.
After all these months, Iris does not get better. Tired of emergency appointments, I bring the children to my folks have Gramps look at her. As we look forward to the equinox, now just two weeks away, Iris regains her health. Three months of illnesses has made this long winter dark. I live in the shadow of a looming fear of its return.
I love these falls. I have visited them at so many different ages in my life.
When I watch their falling water or their hanging ice, I see my family.
This year, I decided to teach my children the true meaning of Valentine’s day: day-after-Valentine’s-day 50% off sales on gourmet chocolate. I bought one heart-shaped box for Papa. We shared it over the course of a few days. When the box was empty, he gave it to Iris. It remained empty until we re-melted down all of the crayons that we had turned into block shapes in order to turn them into heart-shapes. I sewed protective stretch-denim bags for each of the crayons. Iris decided a heart-shaped box is the perfect place for heart-shaped crayons. I have no idea what we will do with so many giant heart-shaped crayons. Here, you can see Martin testing out the red one.
My children have been sick for months.
As soon as I think it is getting better, it gets worse.
I move their feverish bodies from room to room as I paint the walls.
Akiva tests the quality of snowmelt dripping from the rooftop of an old brick building.
Iris lay herself down to take a nap in Akiva’s bed.
Something about the bedding made it a bit difficult for her to relax.
If there is snow on the back porch he will shovel it.
And he will shovel it and shovel it and shovel it.
If there is snow on the back porch he will shovel it.
He will shovel shovel shovel shovel shovel it!*
*NOTE: Akiva claims all snow on the back porch. He spends hours shoveling. Trespassers will be tyrannized.
